A Windham Hill Christmas, Vol. 2

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: October 07, 2003
• Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of), Christmas
• Genre: Holiday

Review

Following in the footsteps of the previous collection, A Windham Hill Christmas, Vol. 2 gathers more relaxing, sophisticated holiday music as performed by Windham Hill's roster of artists. The collection finds the right balance between traditional and contemporary, both in terms of its sound and its choice of songs. Will Ackerman and David Cullen's "I Wonder as I Wander" sounds gently modern, while Paul McCandless' "In Dulci Jubilo" has a slightly more traditional bent. Tracy Silverman and Thea Suits' strings and flute interpretation of "Away in a Manger" mixes both approaches and is breathtaking in its lovely simplicity. Most of the performances here, including Barbara Higbie's "Patapan," suggest pristine snowscapes or, in the case of Jim Brickman's "The First Noel," the warmth of a hearth, but Steve Erquiaga's "Joy to the World" may be the first rendition of the carol that sounds downright sunny. Tracks by Richard Schönherz, Alex de Grassi, and Tim Story and George Winston's "Silver Bells" complete the album, which like A Windham Hill Christmas, makes a lovely, subtle soundtrack to the holidays. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
In Dulci Jubilo		Paul McCandless	(4:34)
Joy to the World	Traditional	Steve Erquiaga	(4:11)
Got Rest Ye Merry [Live]	Traditional	Philip Aaberg	(3:07)
Away in a Manger		Thea Suits-Silverman, Tracy Silverman	(2:13)
Patapan	Bernard Dela Monnoye	Barbara Higbie	(3:46)
The First Noel	William Sandys, Traditional	Jim Brickman	(3:17)
The Waits' Song		Brian Dunning, Jeff Johnson	(3:20)
I Wonder as I Wander		Will Ackerman, William Ackerman, David Cullen	(3:56)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing	Felix Mendelssohn, Charles Wesley	Tim Story	(3:02)
Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella		Liz Story	(2:35)
Angels We Have Heard on High		Alex de Grassi	(4:22)
O Tannenbaum	Traditional	Richard Schönerz	(4:11)
Silver Bells	Ray Evans, Jay Livingston	George Winston	(3:52)

Credits

Paul McCandless (Oboe), Will Ackerman (Guitar (Baritone)), Tim Story (Synthesizer), Kimberly Bryden (Oboe), Bill Esses (Engineer), Tracy Silverman (Producer), Richard Schönerz (Engineer), Neil Harris (Mixing), Steve Erquiaga (Arranger), Corin Nelsen (Mixing), Brian Dunning (Penny Whistle), Dawn Atkinson (Compilation Producer), Howard Johnston (Producer), David Cullen (Keyboards), Philip Aaberg (Editing), David Ross (Photography), Carl Story & the Rambling Mountaineers (Photography), Tracy Silverman (Arranger), Howard Johnston (Mixing), David Cullen (Guitar), Paul McCandless (Arranger), Liz Story (Arranger), Jon Marsh (Engineer), Paul McCandless (Keyboards), Barbara Higbie (Piano), Alex de Grassi (Producer), William Coulter (Guitar), Dawn Atkinson (Producer), Jim Brickman (Arranger), Rob Atkins (Photography), Todd Phillips (Bass), David Cullen (Arranger), Tracy Silverman (Keyboards), George Winston (Soloist), Paul McCandless (Producer), Steve Erquiaga (Guitar (Nylon String)), Brian Dunning (Accordion), Barbara Higbie (Synthesizer), Tim Story (Producer), Alex de Grassi (Engineer), Brian Dunning (Engineer), Philip Aaberg (Producer), Brian Dunning (Flute), Tim Story (Arranger), Barbara Higbie (Celtic Harp), George Winston (Producer), Tim Story (Piano), David Cullen (Bass), Barbara Higbie (Violin), Justin Lieberman (Assistant), Steve Erquiaga (Engineer), Ray Katchatorian (Photography), Philip Aaberg (Arranger), Patrick Hinely (Photography), Will Ackerman (Native American Drums), Richard Schönerz (Arranger), Philip Aaberg (Engineer), Barbara Higbie (Dulcimer (Hammer)), Richard Schönerz (Keyboards), David Rose (Photography), Michael Manring (Fretless Bass), Nina Gerber (Guitar (Acoustic)), Chris Bellman (Mastering), Howard Johnston (Engineer), Philip Aaberg (Piano (Grand)), Jim Brickman (Producer), Martha Reikow (Cello), Barbara Higbie (Arranger), Tracy Silverman (Viola), Eddie King (Engineer), Tracy Silverman (Engineer), Richard Schultz (Photography), Paul McCandless (Horn (English)), Philip Aaberg (Overdubs), Will Ackerman (Producer), Brian Dunning (Arranger), Alex de Grassi (Arranger), Dawn Atkinson (Mixing), Thea Suits-Silverman (Flute), John Dillberto (Liner Notes), Richard Schönerz (Percussion Programming), Tracy Silverman (Violin (Electric)), Alex de Grassi (Guitar), Jim Brickman (Piano), Steve Erquiaga (Producer), Mo Ström (Design), George Winston (Guitar), Barbara Higbie (Producer), Richard Schönerz (Producer), Liz Story (Piano), Tim Story (Engineer), George Winston (Arranger), Will Ackerman (Arranger), Tracy Silverman (Violin), Irene Young (Photography)